525-Pound Bear Rescued from Crawl Space of Fire-Evacuated California Home

The bear, too large to tranquilize, was safely trapped and relocated to Angeles National Forest after taking shelter during the Eaton Fire.

A 525-pound black bear was discovered hiding in the crawl space of an Altadena home evacuated during the deadly Eaton Fire in Southern California.
The bear, nicknamed Barry by locals, was too large to be tranquilized, prompting wildlife officials to use a baited trap to safely capture it.
The Fish and Wildlife spent nearly 24 hours removing the bear, which was then transported to Angeles National Forest, given a welfare check, and fitted with a GPS collar before being released.
The Eaton Fire, which began on January 7, destroyed nearly 10,000 structures and displaced local wildlife, leading the bear to seek refuge in the crawl space.
Authorities reinforced the home's crawl space with bear-proof materials and advised residents in bear-prone areas to take similar precautions to prevent future intrusions.